Changes

CIA Director William Casey masterminded an arrangement through private, non-governmental entities and international arms sellers to raise funds and arm the Contras. A splitoff policy followed to sell arms to Iran in its war with [[Saddam Hussein]] which it was badly losing. Arms sales to Iran also hopefully would improve US-Iranian relations which hit a low and broke off during the Carter administration.

CIA Director William Casey masterminded an arrangement through private, non-governmental entities and international arms sellers to raise funds and arm the Contras. A splitoff policy followed to sell arms to Iran in its war with [[Saddam Hussein]] which it was badly losing. Arms sales to Iran also hopefully would improve US-Iranian relations which hit a low and broke off during the Carter administration.

==Mena Arkansas==

==Mena, Arkansas==

The Mena Airport in Arkansas became the logistical point for implementation of US Central American policy. On 5 October 1986 a transport aircraft delivering weapons to the Nicaraguan Contras was shot down by a surface-to-air shoulder launched missile. Two U.S. pilots and a Nicaraguan radio operator died while [[Eugene Hasenfus]], the "kicker" responsible for pushing cargo out of the aircraft, survived. The aircraft was carrying "60 collapsible [[AK-47]] rifles, 50,000 AK-47 rifle cartridges, several dozen [[RPG-7]] grenade launchers and 150 pairs of jungle boots".<ref name=Lange>Timothy Lange, ''Daily Kos'', 27 December 2009, [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/27/819675/-Blast-from-the-Past-Gene-Hasenfus-December-1986 Blast from the Past. Gene Hasenfus: December 1986]</ref> The plane had been owned by [[Bary Seals]] and based in Mena, Arkansas.<ref>http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB920421328276427000 </ref>

The Mena Airport in Arkansas became the logistical point for implementation of US Central American policy. On 5 October 1986 a transport aircraft delivering weapons to the Nicaraguan Contras was shot down by a surface-to-air shoulder launched missile. Two U.S. pilots and a Nicaraguan radio operator died while [[Eugene Hasenfus]], the "kicker" responsible for pushing cargo out of the aircraft, survived. The aircraft was carrying "60 collapsible [[AK-47]] rifles, 50,000 AK-47 rifle cartridges, several dozen [[RPG-7]] grenade launchers and 150 pairs of jungle boots".<ref name=Lange>Timothy Lange, ''Daily Kos'', 27 December 2009, [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/27/819675/-Blast-from-the-Past-Gene-Hasenfus-December-1986 Blast from the Past. Gene Hasenfus: December 1986]</ref> The plane had been owned by [[Bary Seals]] and based in Mena, Arkansas.<ref>http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB920421328276427000 </ref>